Do You Believe in Prayer?

[PN]

Oftentimes, I will hear someone say to me that they are praying for me. I always say, "Thank You". Do you pray? If so, why?

PN

[kathy poodiack]

There are actually many studies that prove that people who are prayed for fare better than those who are not prayed for, even if the "prayer" doesn't know the "prayee" and even if the "prayee" does't know that he is being prayed for. Read Prayer is Good Medicine by Dr.Larry Dossey. It's excellent! I am thankful when people take time out of their busy schedules to stop and pray for my son.

[Max]

What I noticed with my nurse, that after prayer
my pulse go down at least 8 points!, And it calms me down...

[omeleteman]

I don't know if it only happened to me but I kind of lost faith after SCI. I used to pray to thank any successful achievments more than asking for sth. Now, I don't feel like praying.
Maybe time will make me recover faith.

[smokey]

prayer- a request that the laws of the universe be temporarily suspended for one unworthy petitioner. Forget about praying. It is only for the loser weaklings who will not cope, will only blame others and refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions.

[Scorpion]

You know, I generally try to avoid religious discussions these days, as they tend to go nowhere. But calling those of us who pray or beieve in God or simply believe that there's more to the universe than science can answer 'losers'? C'mon, Smokey. Why do you have to make yourself look like arrogant ass. You want to be an atheist, fine. But I hope you really don't believe you're better than any of us who believe in the supernatural. I have faith in science and I have faith in God--the two are not mutually exclusive. My faith in Man is questioned daily.

Too many people try to put God in a box, and I disagree with any absolute notions about prayer and the supernatural. I'm a Christian, but my definition of what that means continues to evolve as time goes by. Yes, I pray, but I cannot expect anything, for I believe--for the most part--shit happens, and God intervenes on rare occasions. I have no idea why he does or doesn't intervene, but with our free-will, we as humans are largely responsible for the state our world is in. We are also responsible for our own actions.

I don't believe I was paralyzed for a reason--but I tend to believe I survived my accident for a reason. Did God intervene? I don't know. But I do know that I don't think Smokey's a 'loser' because he doesn't believe in a higher power. I don't think he's going to Hell either. But I do believe he could use a smack to the ol' ego, cuz he doesn't have life any more figured out than the rest of us 'losers.' http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

~Rus

[Raven]

Yes, I believe in prayer with all heart and soul. I have found so much help through prayer, not only physically but spiritually.

I recall one occassion where I was hospitalized for dehydration and had several blood levels off.
The doctor ordered that I should get potassium through an IV. When it goes into your veins, it is very painful, particularly if not watered down.
It was so hard to bear with that burning pain that I felt the tears coming to my eyes on their own. Decided to try praying for Him to help me to be able to tolerate the pain. Slowly, the pain would start ebbing away while I prayed until it would be completely gone.

There have been other occassions where I have prayed for strength and have been blessed with the strength I needed.

Really don't want to argue with anyone about my beliefs but I just wanted people to know what has happened to me.

Raven

[smokey]

Prayer is nothing more than a desperate attempt to strike a deal with some imaginary friend with whom you've assigned an extraordinary amount of power to get your sorry ass out of trouble. Get real-ditch the Jesus H. Christ crap and deal with your life. By the way, the "H" stands for Harold-that was Jesus' middle name. You know like in the prayer "Our father who art in heaven Harold be thy name....." Also in the top 10 Christmas jingle "Hark the Harold's Angels Sing" Actually my heaven insiders tell me He is known as just "The Harold" in heaven-kind of like "The Donald" down here!

[Joe B]

I believe prayer is beneficial for anyone who believes in a greater being. It doesn't obtain miracles and shouldn't be used for that purpose.

I have read some of those studies where the researcher says that people who are prayed for and got better than those who weren't and all I can say is that God must be awfully capricious and discriminates against those who dont get prayed for. (I reject the studies as being conducted improperly actually)

If it brings you closer to the creator, or your concept of God, then it is doing what it is meant to do.

I also have people say they will pray for me and in my heart I know that it will not make a physical difference but mentally I know they feel better and so I feel good for them.

Prayer is helpful in realizing our place in this universe. I am one individual on a planet of 6 billion, in a galaxy of millions of life capable planets in a universe with billions, and billions, and billions of galaxies. (thank you Carl Sagan)should make you feel small.

If it makes you feel good, why not pray.
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Joe B

[Scorpion]

Smokey, you're entitled to your own beliefs, but don't think for a second that I don't deal or don't cope every f**kin' day, bro. I respect others' belief systems because we all come from different places, but I don't respect someone belittling others because of their belief systems. I thought you seemed cool in other posts--why do you have to be an ass in this thread? Maybe that's how you cope? Well, whatever works for you. It just seems like a sad way to cope with life if you have to put others down to boost your own ego.

~Rus

[This message was edited by Scorpion on August 28, 2001 at 03:58 PM.]